The table had been filled with delicacies, wines, meats, vegetables, and fruits. Sitting happily was Taras’s father conversing with William, Taras mother looked pleased and Tara was quiet and solemn.

“I am grateful for the acceptance of my proposal. I wish for Princess Evelyn and her kindness to help bring happiness to the people of the kingdom.” The king smiles brightly and the Queen smiles at Taras.

“You are doing very well” These words brought a smile to Taras face. Their mother was strict and expected a lot, being told by her that he was doing well was all he had wanted to hear for awhile. The dinner continued with jokes, laughter, and fun. As the night came to an end Taras was heading back to his room accompanied by William.

“You really are a kind and beautiful person, your presence makes me smile. I believe I am already starting to fall madly in love with you, if you can believe it. I know we’ve known each other for quite a long time but it is only now that I am coming to learn about the true you, not the stories from my sister. I hope to be a good husband my dear, have a goodnight.” With the final words he kisses Taras hand and turns away to return to his room and head out on his journey. In his room Taras lays on the bed, arms spread thinking of William. William is falling for him as he is for William. William is falling for his sister Taras corrects himself. An illusion, not the man that he is. Taras stares at his hand that had been kissed by William and lays it against his cheek, warm and filled with possibilities.

~:D~

Late in the night Taras put on some pants, a hood, and some boots. Quiet as a mouse and fast as a fox Taras was out of the castle, past the guards and on their way up a hill. At the top there was a singular tree with bushes surrounding it leaving a small circle where one could go unseen. Standing in the small clearing Taras breathed deeply. The air was still. The wind didn’t howl, the brushes were still, the falling leaves had stopped in their tracks. Through a mist Taras opened his eyes and smiled. He was right, his sister had left him a message in his special place. A voice came from the mist.

“Dear brother, I am off to find my Ava, her letters had stopped for a week beforehand and I worry that we have been discovered. I know that Mother and Father will send people to come after me but do not worry, I am with people I can trust. I love you, be patient with mom, she does her best.” The message ends and the mist fades, slowly the wind and the bushes move along as if they had never stopped. Taras sits down under the tree and looks to the sky, the moon only a small sliver and the stars shining brightly.